General Timeline for Health Professions

 
It is important to work with a Health Professions Advisor as soon as you begin to consider going into a professional program. You will need to meet requirements in three areas:
  • Academics
  • Background Experiences
  • Confirming Clinical Experience
Here is a general timeline to help you get started. Working closely with a Health Professions Advisor is key to becoming a successful applicant.
 

Freshman Year

1. Academics:
  • Meet with your CSU Major Advisor and Health Professions Advisors to plan your academic program.
If you have not decided on a major, make an appointment to meet with an advisor at the Center for Advising and Student Achievement  (970-491-7095) to explore majors.
 
Visit the Career Center to learn about skill and interest assessments and to schedule an appointment with a Career Counselor.
  • Get to know faculty – you will need to know them as resources for major/career information and for future references and letters of recommendation.
  • Do your best academically – a strong grade point average (minimum 3.4) will provide you with more options.
2. Background Experiences:
  • Get involved in student clubs/organizations and community activities/volunteer programs.

Student Health Professions clubs include Premedica, Pre-Physical Therapy, Pre-Dentistry, Pre-Occupational Therapy, Pre-Optometry, Pre-Pharmacy, and Pre-Veterinary

3. Confirming Clinical Experience:
  • Investigate and apply for medical/health care-related part time jobs, volunteer experiences, and shadowing opportunities.

Sophomore Year

1. Academics:
  • If you have not already done so: Choose a major and continue to refine your academic plan.
Meet with your major advisor to plan your program of study. You may want to explore a minor, interdisciplinary studies program, or a study abroad program.
  • Meet with a Health Professions advisor to learn about prerequisite courses, required entrance exams and deadlines.
  • Research specific Health Professional schools to which you want to apply and learn about specific courses required for admission.
  • Keep your grades up!  Grades are key to being competitive for health profession programs!
2. Background Experiences:
  • Continue and/or expand your involvement with student clubs/organizations and community activities/volunteer programs.
3. Confirming Clinical Experience:
  • Continue to work/volunteer in medical/health care related settings, and shadow health professionals!
  • Schedule informational interviews with professionals in your area of interest to gain realistic perspectives of Health Professions careers.
  • Find a summer internship or career-enhancing part-time job
  • Read books, journals, and magazines about the health profession that interests you

Junior Year

1. Academics:
  • Meet with your major advisor to review and continue your academic plan.
    • Take electives that are relevant to your career goals
  • Meet with your Health Professions advisor to be on track for admission exams, deadlines and course prerequisites.
    • Attend workshops: personal statement writing, interviewing, and applications.
    • Begin to write your personal statement and to develop interviewing skills.
  • Study and prepare (prep courses or workshops) for the entrance exams required by the health profession schools to which you wish to apply
    • Attend workshops that will help you to prepare for the exams.
    • Take the test!!!
  • Keep your grades up!  REMEMBER—you will need a strong GPA to be a competitive candidate
2. Background Experiences:
  • Continue and/or expand your involvement with student clubs/organizations and community activities/volunteer programs.
  • Review application materials from the health profession schools to which you plan to apply
    •  Visit or talk with admissions representatives at these schools
  • Meet with professors, advisors and professionals who know of your academic skills and activities within a health profession field and ask them to write letters of recommendation that are required for Health Professions program applications
3. Confirming Clinical Experience:
  • Continue working/volunteering in medical/health care related settings. Shadow health professionals!  Find a summer internship!
  • Continue reading about the Health Professions of interest to you; learn about ethical issues and health care issues that directly affect this profession

Senior Year

1. Academics
  • Meet with your major advisor to complete your academic plan and to file your intent to graduate
  • Meet with your Health Professions advisor
    • Attend workshops for Interviewing
    • Discuss  your "back up plans" if you do not get into a health profession program
  • Submit applications to health profession programs—be aware of individual deadlines!
  • Refine your interviewing skills and arrange a mock interview
  • This is not the time to get “senioritis”---Keep your grades up!
2. Background Experiences
  • Continue and/or expand your involvement with student clubs/organizations and community activities/volunteer programs
3. Confirming Clinical Experience:
  • Continue working/volunteering in medical/health care related settings
  • Continue reading about the health profession you are interested in--having an abundance of knowledge about your specific health profession of interest will help you in an interview!

  

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